Why Go To A Pain Clinic - What's The Difference?

Pain is one of the top reasons people visit their doctors

, second only to feeling ill. Pain that does not go away can limit your activity and your mobility, cause fatigue and irritability, and can keep you from enjoying your life. Chronic pain can even lead to depression and thoughts of suicide. Not all cases are this severe, but many patients find that visiting a pain clinic can give them back a more normal life.

What is chronic pain?

The medical definition of chronic pain is pain or severe discomfort lasting more than six months. It may be continuous or it may come and go. It can be debilitating, preventing you from participating in your normal activities like going to work or caring for your family. It may be less severe but still a continuing presence. In chronic pain cases, the signal for pain remains active in the nervous system for an extended period of time. Sometimes a patient is told that the pain is psychological, all "in his head" but there is often a serious underlying medical cause. A pain clinic may be able to help find this cause.

What are the effects on long term pain?

As mentioned, chronic pain can take a serious toll on a patient. There seems to be a type of mind-body link according to some experts in the field of pain management. Patients may withdraw from their daily lives and relationships. Depression is common among severe pain sufferers. Fatigue and insomnia are frequently reported by patients along with anxiety and sometimes anger. Some studies suggest that chronic pain may suppress the body's immune system.

What causes chronic pain?

Many conditions can cause chronic pain. It may begin with an injury or a surgical procedure. An illness like cancer or shingles may be the root cause. For some patients, the culprit is elusive and remains undiagnosed. Here are a few commonly diagnosed conditions that may result in chronic pain.

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD or TMJ)

Fibromyalgia

Joint or muscle injury from sports or accidents

Failed back surgery

Sciatica

Neuralgia

Headaches and migraines

Why visit a pain clinic?

Not every doctor can deal with every issue. Sometimes a specialist is needed. A family doctor or a general practitioner may not be equipped to deal with the issues surrounding chronic pain. More extensive testing may be required and more time with the patient is needed to arrive at a diagnosis for the root cause of the pain. For a broken bone, you would see an orthopedist; for cancer you would go to an oncologist. When it comes to chronic pain, a pain clinic may be the appropriate "specialist" for the problem.

How can a pain clinic help?

A pain clinic typically offers a multi-disciplinary approach to treating pain. A clinic will usually first attempt to diagnose the source of the pain, then devise a plan to eliminate or manage the resulting pain. The physician may be able to help with the many non-invasive measures available today or she may prescribe medication. She may also see the need for more invasive procedures like injections or nerve blocks.

Not every condition can be "cured" and not every pain can be eradicated but most can be treated and brought to a manageable level of comfort. Visiting a pain clinic may be the first step to living a less painful life.

by: Roger Ubik

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